The wee little life of our 6th baby, Elijah James, who went to be with Jesus when he was still so small.
His life was brief, but his impact was deep and lasting.

We celebrated his birthday today like other birthdays in our house; with cake, a gift, a special dinner, balloons, and sweet, binding laughterbecause Elijah’s life brings us happiness.
Not because we overlook our grief, but becausewe are loved by the great God of redemption.

Like this:

It’s freezing outside.
I have zero motivation.
I would much rather be sleeping, but here I am again.
Laces tied (loosely so my feet won’t go completely numb until 2.3 miles).
Oversized tank top and yoga pants stretched to the max.
32 weeks pregnant and I’m running.
Proudly. (even if I highly doubt my pace could even be considered “running”)

I fell in love with running a little over a year ago and just couldn’t stand the thought of giving it up during pregnancy. Running while pregnant has been rewarding and trying, but I would choose to do it again in a heartbeat. Today as I logged another 5k in my shoes, the challenges of running with a baby inside made me think about the challenges of running this life with Christ inside our hearts.

Sometimes just the idea of running isn’t enough to make me pound the pavement and I need some encouragement to get moving when I don’t want to.
The same is true for daily living our lives to love Jesus by loving people.We simply don’t always want to do it.
It’s often easier to take a nap, settle in to self-pity, or find a hundred other things to do instead of run the race set before us, whether it’s physical or spiritual.

Today, I needed my husband to prod, urge, and push me to go running. Maybe in the same way you could use some reminders to urge you to keep running the race for Christ, I know I do.

Go run the race of kingdom building despite the cost, until your final breath. Give it everything you have.For the sake of Christ, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

Run from the sins that so easily entangle you.Lay aside every weight and sin, which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance. Hebrews 12:1

Run because you are truly free, whether you feel like it or not.If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed. John 8:36

Go running because you aren’t doing this alone. You have a community of cheerleaders in Heaven and the Body of believers surrounding you on earth. Join in!Therefore, because we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, … let us run with all endurance the race set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Run because you have been given a mission to accomplish before your time is up.Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Mark 16:15

Run because you are empowered – this racing thing isn’t about you, because of you, nor is it done on your strength and ability.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

Go running because there is a finish line with a very great reward.For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Run towards the lost like they are dying, because they are.He who does not have the Son, does not have life. I John 5:12